Bacillophobia | Fear of Microbes

(ba-sill-oh-fo-be-ah)

What is Bacillophobia?

Bacillophobia is the persistent and irrational fear of germs and microbes and (as phobias go) is quite common. It's also referred to as Bacteriophobia and Microphobia,

This phobia is often associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and may be evident from sufferers wiping or spraying their environment with disinfectant, washing their hands repeatedly, and avoiding intimacy or shared items, etc.

The root word 'bacillus' is from Late Latin meaning 'wand', but it's literally meaning is 'little staff', as the first bacteria discovered were rod-shaped. The word 'phobia' comes from the Greek word ‘phóbos’ meaning 'fear.'

Causes of Bacillophobia

Bacillophobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Isolated phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well understood, are driven by social anxiety and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Bacillophobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.